Fostering Positive Identity for Children in Orphanages in South-East, Nigeria: The Caregiving Factor

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Date
2020
Authors
Sopekan, O.S.
Ignatius-Ihejirika, M.U.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
IJIRETSS
Abstract
Children's identity is a crucial aspect of their development, and its process Cof development is dynamic. It is rooted in their various activities and everyday relationships, at home, in the community, and at school. Because in Nigeria, the orphanage is the core care option available for orphans and vulnerable children, there is meager information on the caregiving practices in orphanages in Nigeria with regards to developing children's identity. This study investigated caregiving practices and the extent to which caregiving practices and physical environment meet up with standards that promote its development among children in orphanages in South-East, Nigeria. The descriptive survey design was used to collect data from 77 caregivers of 287 children (0-6years) using two instruments namely; Orphanage Caregiving Activities Questionnaire (OCAQ) and the Orphanage Physical Environment Observation Checklist (OPEOC). The study has three research questions, and we are using frequency counts, percentages, mean, and standard deviation to answer them. The result showed that caregivers, to a large extent, were involved in caregiving practices that do not promote positive identity in children in the orphanages. Also, the physical environments of the orphanages were in the same category. However, to a moderate extent, water was accessible to children for drinking and hand washing, the surroundings has shades, and caregivers can supervise all children by sight and sound. These physical environments items at a moderate extent level do not meet up to the standards that promote children identity. The study recommends that government and organizations interested in children's holistic development should organize regular in-service training/workshop for orphanage caregivers and operators on the importance of children identity and how they can develop a positive identification in children under their care.
Description
Scholarly articles
Keywords
Vulnerable Children , Orphans , Caregiving practices , Positive Identity , Research Subject Categories::SOCIAL SCIENCES::Social sciences::Education
Citation
Sopekan, O.S. & Ignatius-Ihejirika, M.U. (2020). Fostering Positive Identity for Children in Orphanages in South-East, Nigeria: The Caregiving Factor. International Journal of Innovative Research in education, Technology and Social Strategies, 7(1). 181-196